Musical instrument



Dec. 13', 1927. A 1,652,627

Y E. JEROME MUSICAL INSTRUMENT *Y Filed Deo, 10, .1924 3 sheets-snee: 2

E 5 `HvVEA/TOR. q BY Zw/Z/rfzr A TTORNEYS.

Dec. 13, 1927.. 1,652,627

E. .JERoME MUS I GAL INSTRUMENT Filed Dec. 10, 1924 s shee'sshefyv s F 7 INVENTOR;

lq BY WZ e! ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 13, 1927.

UNITED ySTATES PATENTAOOFFICE.

EDWARD JEROME, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

-MUsicAL INSTRUMENT.

VApplication filed December 10, 1924.' Serial No. 754,908.

My invention relates to' stringed musical instruments, more particularly to stringed stead of the usual four or eight. With the use of twelve strings on an instrument, greater harmony may be obtained.

In the accompanying drawings which form la part of the specification,

Figure 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of my invention in the form of ar banjomandolin;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a unitary cast metal frame used in 'the banjo shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of Figure 2 taken on the line 3-3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure a is the cross section of the neck of the frame at the line 1 -4i of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is the cross section of the neckv ofthe frame at the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a sectional view of Figure 1 taken on the line 6-6 looking in the direction of the arrows, and illustrating the diaphragm head tightening means;

Figure 7 illustrates a linger-board of cast metal for the instrument;

Figure 8 is a plan view of a portion of a finger-board showing a modified form of Stringing an instrument with twelve strings in position, and

Figure 9 shows a partial elevation of the rtail-piece end of the banjo shown in Figure 1.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar parts in each of the accompanying views.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral l indicates the frame of the instrument. The entire frame is made in a unitary casting of metal, preferably of aluminum, possessing rigidity, strength, resonance, and lightness. This frame consists of an annular body portion 25 and a neck or handle portion 2. Upon this annular body portion is placed a diaphragmhead 5 of the usual construction. A slot 14 'tightening inO'ers 2l.

is provided in thecasting between the said bo'dy portion and the said neck portion for permitting the diaphragm-head to seat properly. The diaphragm-head is held in place by a plurality of L-shaped fastening or One end 26 of each of the said fastening fingers engages an annular' strainer hook 2O of the diaphragmhead, and the other end 27 which is threadl ed passes throughv a lug 6 cast integral with the exterior of the said body portion 25. In order to tighten the diaphragm-head in place, a nut 22 is provided for each fastening finger 21. This nut engages the said threads 27 so that the said nut may be drawn up and thereby tighten the diaphragmhead t0 any desired degree.

The neck 2 projects from the body portion in a substantially radial manner. In Order to give rigidity to this neck, it is channeled and has substantially a U- A shaped section as is shown in Figure f1. Due

to the fact that this neck is subjected to bending stresses, it is made widest at its juncture with the body portion, and tapers to a small section at its end, as is best shown in Figure `3. In each of the-corners of the said neck, screw-receiving means 10 are provided,r the purpose of which will be explained later. A finger-board lniade of cast metal lits on the neck and projects over the diaphragmhead a short distance. In order to hold the linger-board in place, screws 18 are provided which pass through the finger-board and into the said screw receiving means 10.

The end of the neck is provided with a flat portion L1 somewhat on an angle to the neck. This flat portion is provided with threaded holes 12 for receiving string keys 13. The said string keys hold the upper ends of strings 16, while the lower ends of the said strings are fastened in al tail-piece 8 which is provided with a plurality of apertures 7. The tail piece projects from the body portion andris integral therewith. As may be seen from Figure. 2, this tail piece is diametrally opposed to the neck. The strings may be adjusted by means of said string keys 13, and when so adjusted the body portion is subjected to a collapsing stress. In order to assist the body portion to resist this stress, an interior diametral reinforcing rib 9 is provided, directly in line with said tail piece and said neck. A

conventional bridge member 17 is supported on the drum head directly under the strings, 'for delining the lower musical length of the strings, the upper' limit being deiined by the string keys. y

As noted above, the fastening fingers 21 may be used to adjust the diaphragm head, and string keys 13 for adjusting the tension in the strings. After these adjustments have been made, the instrument is ready to be played.

In Lorder to use the inodied form ot Stringing the instrument, three strings must be used in place of the. usual one or two. By using three strings, full tones may be obtained. In Figure 8 a. banjoanandolin is shown in which GL is either an octave higher or lower than the G strings, whereas A1,D1, and El are an octave lower than their respective strings. However,y it is hre'lierable to use a yGr1 string an octave higher, because the G1 string an octave lower is so thick that in line with the reinforcing` rib, and per-y forated lug parts upon the periphery of the body portion about midway of the height thereot', all et said parts being integrally connected, strings anchored in the body part at one end of the reinforcing rib part, means adjustably connecting the `opposite ends o the strings to the distant end of the neck part, a diaphragm head on said body part of the frame, a ring surrounding t-he diaphragm head and said body part above the lug parts, hooks overlying the rings and provided with threaded Shanks which pass through the lug parts, and finger nuts threaded on the hook shanks below the lugs `for drawing the ring downward yto tighten the diaphragm head, whereby the body portion of the frame and the tension ot the diaphragin head are unaifl'eoted by the tensioning of `the instrument strings.

2. In a metallic iframe for a musical instrument having a diaphragm head, a cylindrical body part'tor supporting said diaphragm head, a reinforcing rib part extending diametrically across said body part, the upper' edge of said rib part being sufiiciently below the upper edge of said body part to permit ot' free vibration of the diaphragm head, a neck part projecting beyond the body part in line with said reinforcing rib, `the said neck part being hollow and sub stantially U-shape in crosssection, said neck part being provided with inwardly extending threaded means, a head part at the outer Aend ot said neck part, all of said parts of the trame being integrally connected, and said trame being provided with a slot between said body part and said neck part for receiving said diaphragm head.

In testimony whereof I have atiixed my signature to this specification.

EDWARD JEROME. 

